The Tsaesci are most always described as snake people in lore. There is one drawing and some descriptions of them with snake-like lower bodies and humanoid upper bodies.

They are consistently described as "tall, beautiful (if frightening), [and] covered in golden scales."

Alduin's wall has the Dragonguard's history represented on it, which was originally made up of Akaviri people. Are these Akaviri depicted the same men that were supposedly eaten by the Tsaesci, or are they the Tsaesci?

The Akaviri general's ghost, and the ancient Akaviri armor, are also regularly humanoid shaped. The only reason I wouldn't think these are Akavir men from Atmora is they are said to have been "eaten long ago," suggesting they may have never gained any kind of power to be able to travel to Tamriel as they are depicted in those events.

And of course there is the Akaviri Potentate, but we have never gotten a clear description of him other than the usual, which may be propoganda.


Sources tend to vary.

Do you think the snake like appearance is propoganda or true? Is it an exaggeration of more minimal features? Do they have many breeds (like the Khajiit or Argonians) with different physiologies? Does anyone know any better sources?

I always pictured them somewhat like Argonians but with more snake like facial features and of course, golden scales. They always seemed bipedal in my mind because they ate the men of Akavir and the Tsaesci philosopy, "We ate it to become it".

My imagination makes them men with snake like features due to your afformentioned reasons (Alduin's Wall, Pale Pass) and the fact they were said to have interbread among the Cyrodiilic population, but I don't think anything about Akavir is even 50% certain.

I remember the Interview With Three Bookwriters said that the depiction of the Potenates as shown in 2920 was based on interviews with veterans of the Attack on Ionith.

They were serpents who ate men to become them.

Whatever that means.

The Akaviri in the Oblivion quest, where given a imperial body and had blade Armour thrown on them because of laziness and technical limitations.
The Tsaesci look like this most likely, http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/?p=conceptart§ion=15263 and when they say the men of akavir were eaten by the tsaesci it probably means they were absorbed into the tsaesci empire.

Don't be boring...

Their vampiric snake men of course they ate all the humans.

Ha, but vampires don't eat people they drink the blood of beings.

The serpent-folk ate all the Men of Akavir a long time ago, but still kind of look like [the Men]...

They're serpents with superficial, human features. I don't like the imagery, but its there. They didn't become the Men, not physically.

Had they not been eaten, these Men would have eventually migrated to Tamriel. The http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Nords left http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Atmora for Tamriel. Before them, the Elves had abandoned http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Aldmeris for Tamriel. The Redguards destroyed Yokuda so they could make their journey.

The author believes the men were eaten, before they could migrate to Tamriel. His theory doesn't seem to pass scrutiny, because Akaviri men are cut on Alduin's Wall, and we have human remains, ruins, and artifacts. Were the Blades human dragon hunters from Akavir, or were they remnants of Reman's Tsaesci guard? The later seems to be myth, as does the continent of Akavir.

The continent of Akavir is most definitely not a myth, considering the Empire once invaded it and got its ass kicked.